Sandy Masterson marks down the weight of a pumpkin Saturday during the weigh-off at the Nekoosa Giant Pumpkin Fest in Nekoosa.

Written by

While a lack of rain and temperatures often above 90 degrees this summer made growing giant pumpkins a challenge, competitors still managed to cultivate some giants to enter in the Nekoosa Giant Pumpkin Fest.

Chris Stevens of New Richmond is a former world record holder for one of his giant pumpkins. Stevens, who has been growing pumpkins since 2006, grew one in 2010 that weighed a record-setting 1,810 pounds. His reign lasted until this year, when someone in another state grew a pumpkin that weighed in at 2,009 pounds, Stevens said.